Condensation of zinc.



A. L. J. QUENEAU. GONDENSATION OF ZINC APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, 1912.

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Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

lTo all wilma *it lmay l' l non, such as will enable others skilledin France, 5 Phladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have ments in Condensation of Zinc; and I do out the invention,

the United States No. 1,006,877, granted tov electric zinc furnace, u l rotation to the condenser, in order to ut1l1ze' lits capabilities to thegreatestiextent and to of its man of its characteristic functions would be ulflle'd if the structure wereentirely |View thereof on the line 2er-2 of Fig..1 F ig.` 3, represents an end view of the; condenser.

lar parts throughout the several views". t

which isvshown in section in lnUeUsriItr-nl ,1; QUENEAU, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

coNDENsATIoN or ZINC@ 1 Bev it known that` I, Aueusrrr` J, QUENEAU, a citizen of the Republic of residing at Philadelphia, county of inventedcertain new `and useful Improvehereby declare 'the following to be affull, clear, 'and exact description ofthe .inven-` the art to `whichgit appertainsto make and' usethesame. i f A r M,

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements Vin the condensation of zinc vaporsjfrom a mixture o fvapors and gases given off in the reduction of zinc from zinc ores and other zinciferous compounds. For purposes of illustration, I have shown the condenser employed in carrying as applied to a rotary electric furnace for the reduction of zinc ores and zinciferous, compounds, of the type described and claimed in LettersiPatent of me under date of October 2ftth,-1911. As will hereinafter more fully appear, I prefer to thus connect the condenser to a rot-ary or tootherwise impart -Insure the more equalanduniform durationv parts.4 But I do not; limit myself to impartlng to the condensera continuous rov' tary motion, an intermittently rotatlngmotion, or an alternating rot'aryjmotion,` as contemplated in said patent, inasmuch as stationary, which is likewise within the. pur- Inthe accompanying drawing: Figure ll,

as connected up for rotation with a rotary electric' zinc reduction furnace of the type i 1,006,877; Fig. 2, represents a cross-sectional Similar letters of reference indicate simi- The reducing chamber, a portion of Fig.vl is of the rotary type, that is, it is a chamber adapt-` ed to be rotated continuously or intermit- Specication of Letters Patent.

stance,

provided with outer ribs,

'a series of radially arrang grior molten metal, or of molten slag, adapted to 4'be maintained in a condition of high fluidity, during the operation of the furnace, by the passage of an electric current of suitable amperage, so as to supply the necessary heatfor reducing'thezinc ore of the charge of zinc ore and `colte resting upon the molten resistor, I need not further describe the construction and mode of operation of the reducing chamber,`inasmuch as thesame is fully set forth in ferred to.

The condenser, when employed in connecton with a furnace ofthe rotary type, may conveniently be removably attached to one of the end plates thereof, Las for inby means of the screw-threaded rods f, provided withturn-buckles k for adjusting theirly tension. The condenser is provi ed with an outer metallic shell, which may be made up of sections bolted tofgether,

as shown, and these sections are pre erably longitudinal and transverse, for the purpose of assisting in the `radiation of heat from ,the shell. The iiangefb is adapted-to be `bolted to the end plate ofthe rotary reduction chamber or l P atentedDec.30,1913. A ."Afpplication ill Apri123,191`2. serialrafsasss. f i' tently infone direction, or alternately in l opposite' directions, soas tosubject the contumbling action.

my Letters- Patent refl furnace, and the yflange'c is bolted to the end-plate d' ofthe condenser, the end-plate d being preferably insulated from' the condenser shell, by the interposition of suitable insulating material, as shown.

Theshell ofthe condenser is provided with a/ lining c of refractory material,'such as fire-brick.` It is likewise rovided with .carbonaceous baiiles, projecting inwardlyfrom the shell and spacedapart at suitable intervals. The function of these balies is, in part, to conduct the excess of heat from the interior space of the condenser to the metallic shell, from which it is then radiated;` in part, to serve `as condensing surfaces to initiate the condensation of the zinc vapors in the form of small drops or globules serving as the nuclei yfor further condensation; in part to equalize. the temperature conditions at corresponding zones of the condensers inteand, in part, to unite with any carbon dioxid which may be present in the gases coming over from the zinc reduction 1 and at the same time is especially lefficient I, 11sy graphite,

cause of its very high conductivity for heat,

furnace and to convert them as far as possible into carbon monoxid, thereby reducing the possibility of oxidation of the zinc vapors within the condenser.4

lInasmuch as the zone ofthe condenser immediately proximate to the flaring discharge aperture a of the furnace is the region of highest temperature, I prefer to make the first two radial coursesv g of bafes, of a quality of carbon less susceptible to corrosion by the furnace gases than the carbon employed for the courses of baffles beyond. "To this end, I prefer for the baiiles g ofI these first two courses graphite of high quality such, for inst-ance, as Acheson which is likewise preferable' beso that, while it p ays its part in the conversion of any carbon dloxid present, it 1s not unduly consumed in such conversion,

i 4in abstracting heat within the zone of its V the insertion of are not subjected to the more exacting conditions imposed upon the first course of the series.

' The end-plate d of thencondenser is provided with a central A aperture h, in line .with the longitudinal central axis ofthe condenser and in line with the discharge aperture of the furnace chamber, so that the operator is affordedy every opportunity for a clearing iron 'through this aperture 1n order to remove any obstructions that might possibly form in the flaring aperture a. So also, at the-.point opposite the intervals between the individfV ual members of the several courses of baffle plates, the end-plate of the condensenwhereby the condenser itself may be effectivelyaccessible to prevent possible accrctions therein.

The refractory lining of the end-plate is itself provided with a series of apertures z' corresponding to the outer -series fof .apertures of the endplate,'and the aperturesz' are located in such I terior space of the condenser that .when

they successively reach the lowermost position during thel revolution of the condenser they can serve as draining openings vthrough which the condensed zinc may be continuously discharged. Whether this dis-- keep the condenser ractically clear of any collecting p'ool at its bottom, or'whether such a collecting will su ce tosimilar openings ,are provided in` relationship to the in.v

pool is 1 to be constantly maintained, depends upon the adjustment 'of a series of axially adjustable hollow discharge plugs m, with which the circular series of apertures of the end-'plate are provided. These discharge plugs are bored eccentrically, as

the end-plate,they may be given an adjust- 'ment which will give free outlet to the liquefied zinc through the aperture c', or so that they will dam back a certain amount of the yliquefied zinc to form the depth of pool desired within the condenser. either case, justmentchosen for the hollow discharge plugs m shall be such maintaining a continuous; discllarge) `r from lished the effective 'area-'of the" condenser for any particular conditions of use, that factor may remain constant, rather, than. to be changed byxa progressive raising of condensing chamber. It will, of-fc'ourse, 'be understood that if apool-of greater Vvor less depth is established 'within-the-condenser by plugs m, the several balies, as the condenser rotates, will dip *into this pool and tend to carry a portion of the moltenv zinc' up'4 into the free space .ofthe condenser, which will tend to give tojthe'v kcondensingoperation such advantage as is 5 incidentgto the eX- posure of the zincthus raised to the condensing Zinc vapor,v If the condenser is to from 6 tov 18 revolutions per hour.

it is desirable that the temperature conditions therein should'be so established, for any particular use,-

sions of the condenser, the acter of the refractory lining,

with reference tothe amount,` character and ltemperature of the` mixture of gases and vapors received from the reduction furnace,

vso that the conditions prevailing within the possible to the maximuml condensation.

Having thus described my invention what Iclaim is t itslinterior;psubstantially as described.

shown, so that by suitably turning them 1nas to'maintain a-poolv within the condenser or not, I,contemplate`vr the condenser,- sogthathaving oncefestab a corresponding adjust-mentgof thele'ccentric be rotated, it w1ll usually be preferable to give it a relatively low rate of rotation, say

-For the most eioient use of'j the condenser,

v .that the condensation and liquefaction point should' be' realizedortion of thev dispersing capacity of the shell, the dimenv quality and charand the other variable factors must ybe carefully adjusted In that is tosay, whether the ad-v sol y ai@ ievalof the .liquefied zinqfjwahijnjfthe condenser shallY correspond as closely asv 1. A condenser for zinc vapors, provided i with baffle plates of carbon projecting into 2. A condenser for zinc vapors, provided with batHe plates of carbon projecting into its interior, 4said baliieplates being spaced apart longitudinally of the condenser; substantially as described.

zinc vapors, providedy 3. A condenser for with lbatiie plates of carbon projecting into its interior, said baiie plates being spaced apart longitudinally of the condenser and being likewise spaced apart transversely of the condenser; substantially as described.

4. A con enser'for zinc vapors, provided With baiiie plates of carbon projecting into its interior, said baffle plates being spaced apart longitudinally of the condenser and being likewise spaced apart transversely. of

-6. A condenser for zinc vapors, provided with baiie plates of i graphite in the zone of the condenser proximate to the inlet for the condensable vapors; substantially as described. l f

7. A condenser for zinc vapors,provided with battle plates of carbon an `having a metallic shell in heat-conducting'connection with the baffle scribed.- y

l8. A condenser for zinc vapors, provided with battle plates of carbon, in combination plates; substantially -as dewith means for rotating thevcondenser; subp'stantially as described.

condenser for zinc vapors, provided with a continuous discharge for with a metallic the liquefied zinc vand of variable depth of liquefied zinc within the condenser; su stantially as described.

condenser for zinc vapors, provided Witha continuousv discharge for the liquelied 'zinc and' means for establishing a pool of variable depth of liquefied zinc Within the condenser, said nieans consisting of an eccentrically vbored vdischarge plug; substantiallv as described.

11. A condenser for zinc vapors, provided with a series of to the ing gases, the baffle plates proximate of greater heatinlet of thecondenser being conducting capacity than those beyond; substantially as described.

12. A condenser for zinc vapors, provided with a series of courses of batHe plates, and a metallic shell in heat-conducting connec tion therewith, said condenser having an inlet for'the zinc vapors and the accompanying gases, the bafile plates proximate to the of carbon; substantially/.as described. 'f

13. A condenser for zinc vapors, having a metallic shell and provided with an interscribed.

14. A condenser for zinc vapors, shell and having a refractory fire-bricks Within which are set plates of carbon; substantially as described.

Invtestiinony whereof I affix my in presence of two witnesses.

vAUGUSTIN L. J.. QUENEAU.

provided itnesses:

M. A. BILL, FRANK A'. HENNrssY.l

mea-ns for establishing a pool nal lining, Whose structure is in part consti- -tuted of carbon plates; substantially as `deiining of so signature 

